Windstream, the wireline service provider spun off by Alltel a couple years back, has started offering a 12 Mbps broadband tier. The faster broadband speeds are available to about 25% of Windstream’s footprint and uses ADSL2+ technology. Windstream spokesman David Avery tells CED, “We launched our ADSL2-plus service on Monday, and we’ll follow it up with a pretty aggressive marketing plan.” Windstream is offering six-month introductory pricing of $19.99/month (when bundled with select packages). BroadbandReports.com reports that the standard pricing will be $45/month after the introductory period.

The new broadband tier is illustrative of a faster broadband strategy being pursued by telecom service providers to match the cable industry’s broadband speed advantage. Qwest announced the launch of 20 Mbps service in select markets, and Verizon has been increasing its speeds in non-FiOS markets, as well. Will broadband speed inflation ever stop?

Qwest is apparently quietly rolling out its 20 Mbps broadband service in select markets. BroadbandReports.com is reporting that the new broadband tier is being marketed on Qwest’s website, and also includes a somewhat slower 12 Mbps tier as well. The 20 Mbps broadband tier is priced at $105/month, or $130/month when bundled with a landline. The 12 Mbps tier is priced at $52/month, or $77/month when bundled with a landline.

The new Qwest broadband tiers are a part of Qwest’s $300 million FTTN network upgrade. It’s a far cry from the billions that their larger telco brethren are spending to become triple play capable. Qwest maintains that their partnership with DirecTV is the best triple play path to pursue. They intend to deliver these new broadband tiers to 1.5 million customers by 2010.

Best Buy subsidiary Speakeasy will launch ADSL2+ service, targeting the small/medium business market. Speakeasy OneLink™ will have download speeds of up to 8, 10, and 15 Mbps, and upload speeds of up to 1.0 Mbps. The service will be deployed in eleven key markets – Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC – for an installation cost of $149 and monthly prices starting at $149.95, depending on speed.

Who in the world came up with this HD idea anyway? That has to be on the mind at times for IPTV operators like Pioneer Telephone in Oklahoma, who are using copper based DSL platforms. Scott Ulsaker of Pioneer agrees, but also understands that HD will be required in order to compete. As Ulsaker freely admits, a “me too” IPTV service gets you in the door, but advanced IP applications and HD is what will separate you from the pack.

Cable 360 Net talks with Ulsaker in this interesting post.